Makabayan bloc lawmakers on Monday sought economic relief for farmers, fisherfolk, and other workers as the agricultural damage in the country due to El Niño already reached P6.87 billion.
ACT Teachers party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio, Kabataan party-list Renee Co, and Gabriela Women’s Party Sarah Elago filed House Resolution No. 1496 urging the House committees on agriculture and food, aquaculture and fisheries resources, and labor and employment to probe the phenomenon, as well as to assess the government’s mitigation efforts.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) earlier said that El Niño may intensify into a ‘very strong’ phenomenon between September and December this year, and may persist until the first half of 2027.
Pagasa also said that the phenomenon may cause hotter temperatures and a significant decrease in the amount of rainfall.
Elago said that committee hearings into the phenomenon must continue given that the House of Representatives is in the period of amendments for its version of the 2027 General Appropriations Bill. As the lower chamber wrapped up its plenary deliberations on the P7.2-trillion budget bill, it will now be discussed on the floor for its second reading.
‘It is important to ensure that the national funds for 2027 allocate a budget for the impact of the El Niño to the farmers, fisherfolk, and workers,’ Elago told reporters in an interview.
Elago said that she is pushing for the production subsidy for farmers and fisherfolk worth P50,000 and P30,000, respectively.
‘It is important, especially now that prices of fuel products and fertilizer increase, that it is much more needed to provide subsidies for farmers and fisherfolk. Preparing for Super El Niño must include the local agriculture, the labor sector, and the public,’ she added.
Last Sept. 26, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said that El Niño has already affected 223,214 farmers in 14 regions in the country, with damage in the agriculture sector already reaching P6.87 billion.
The DA noted that 163,812 million metric tons of agricultural produce, which span 249,028 hectares of land, have been damaged.
In the same interview, Co said that she will push for amendments to include production subsidies for farmers and fisherfolk, emphasizing that they must not be left behind as the country faces the drastic effects of the El Niño phenomenon.
Last Thursday, the House’s Budget Amendments Review Subcommittee approved an additional P16 billion for the budget of the DA for next year. This aims to support agricultural programs amid the effects of El Niño in the country.
The DA was allocated P198.45 billion under the P7.2 trillion 2027 National Expenditure Program.
Farmer groups Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) and Katipunan ng mga Samahang Magbubukid sa Timog Katagalugan (Kasama-TK) expressed their support in the filing of the resolution.
KMP chairman emeritus Rafael Mariano said that the government must implement program interventions to mitigate the effects of El Niño in the country. He also said that concerned government agencies must coordinate to provide strategic measures to address the phenomenon.
‘The government must have program intervention for us, especially now that the House is in the period of amendments for the 2027 budget. It is important for us to receive compensation for losses from the phenomenon,’ Mariano shared in the same interview.